i am runner strong.

monday was a bad day. a bad day for the people of boston. a bad day for runners. a bad day for americans. and a bad day for the running community all over the world. it was supposed to be a good day, a great day actually. it was patriots day, the running of the 117th boston marathon, and opening day for the red sox. but it wasnt, it was a bad day. 

source

i was off that day. i had been sick all weekend and still couldnt muster the energy to go to work. on the couch after eating the 1st decent breakfast id had in 3 days, i got the notification from nbc on my iphone that 2 explosions had happened at the finish line of the boston marathon. i couldnt believe it. it couldnt possibly be real. for the rest of the day i watched the cnn coverage of the attack, took a phone call from my very cute concerned aunt, constantly updated my twitter feed to check on friends, and sat there in utter disbelief like everyone else. i couldnt believe it. why would someone take such a sacred and joyous day to turn it into a horribly, bad day.

 

this will always be what i think of when someone brings up
the boston marathon finish line. one bad day doesnt get
to change that. (source)

all day yesterday i read so many people's beautiful, heartfelt posts and just didnt know that i could compete. not that this is in any way a competition! i just didnt know that what i would write could stand up to what they had already said. and so my blog sat, rather quiet for the day, when it should have something very runnery, very inspiring to say.

then i got an email about what i would be doing saturday morning. as part of my new years running resolution i decided i really wanted to volunteer at a few events this year. race volunteers are truly amazing and i thought it was about time i got my butt in gear. so a few weeks ago i signed up for the rage triathlon, the race i did last year, to do just that! fast forward to today and an email bounced in my inbox about what i would be doing. after i got over the shock that iI need to be there at 530a i read on to find out i would be at the swim area to begin working crowd control. after that was over i would head over to the finish line to help for the rest of the day. i was totally stoked! they warned to bring extra sunscreen and comfortable shoes since it would be a long day.

just before the race started last year.

my day continued on and i was totally excited that i would be so involved in the race. and then it hit me, i would be part of the finish line crew, just like so many of the brave volunteers that ran right to where the people that needed the most help where and where the blasts when off. not that this race is anything nearly as big as boston, but it made ya think for about a half a second. and then the true runner/american/spunky girl in me came flying out. no way was i letting some coward make me afraid to run a race, or spectate a race, or volunteer at a race! i LOVE this sport. running turned my whole life upside down and helped me find who i really am. that's the beauty of running, it can be whatever you need it to be.

plus, EVERYONE deserves this feeling.

so this saturday i will arrive at boulder beach at 530am with a very big coffee in hand to be a part of a race. and i will continue to toe the start line of half marathons big or small. and on october 27th i will line up with 30,000 of my closest friends to run the marine corps marathon because it's part of who i am. and no one gets to take that away because i am runner strong.

source

the 2012 running recap.

are we really starting a new year already?? we probably all say this every year but, seriously 2012 flew by! there were a lot of really great ups and some definite downs. thank goodness running has been there through it all for me. it keeps me sane!

january~82 miles.

my mom and i returned to disneyland for the inagural tinkerbell 1/2 marathon!! oh man it was awesome and we seriously had a blast. that race also completed my 3 races in 16 weeks and i can successfully say i rocked it:) i probably should have taken a little break after this, but sometimes im a little crazy hehe.

feburary~45 miles.

the color run made its way to las vegas and it was awesome!! the funnest 5k i have ever run. also, remember that im a little crazy and decided to let the cat out of the bag about my next big training adventure...a triathlon!!

march~56 miles.

with one month out from rage i was starting to panic and found out how some people will always try and tear you down no matter what. but then had the most amazing distraction ever, a trip across the pond for nate and katies wedding!!! i officially became an international runner and got to do a running tour around london with a guide. seriously one of the coolest things ever.

april~43 miles.

in my normal, i like to overschedule myself for everything, 2 really fun things happened in the same month. i became a TRIATHELTE and a WARRIOR!! ps my running mileage is low because i was so friggin busy with the swimming and the biking:)

may~56 miles.

finally able to breathe for the 1st time all year i was able to look at the rest of my year and a few things came about. #1 my 3 year runniversary! #2 i won the lottery and got into the nike womens 1/2 marathon! #3 all this craziness really caught up with me and i went into a serious funk. i should have known it would eventually, it just really did kick my butt hard.

june~84 miles.

and just like that i kicked that little depressions ass, on national running day no less! everything is just right in the world when i am training for something and once i realized that i hopped back into it quickly. i signed up for the et 1/2 marathon that happens right outside area 51 at midnight! did i mention im scared of the dark??

july~81 miles.

i finally signed up for a 5k on 4th of july! and the olympics started. i mean if that isnt serious motivation, i dont know what is. those athletes from every country are amazing!! plus i started to see a nutritionist. i had been running for 3 years and hadnt lost a single pound. inches yes, pounds no. so after a disatourus happy hour (mostly in my own head) i took back the power and started seeing joanie. one of the best decision of my life.

august~75 miles.

half #8 in the books! plus i didnt get kidnapped by the aliens while running in the dark. i also began seeing a physical thearpist. after changing shoes i started having pain in the back of my knees so i went to the dr for help. later that week i sat in rons office and he said he could fix me in 9 visits. he did so much more for my entire running life! plus the official training for #nwm started. my dream race was finally happening!!

september~73 miles.

my 27th birthday was a blast with a staycation here in vegas! #nwm training was in full swing and i was actually able to reveal the results from joanie...
18 pounds lost!
44 inches gone!
10% body fat to never be seen again!

october~82 miles.

dream race complete!!! my parents, jessica, richard, and i headed up to san francisco for an amazing weekend full of adventure and ultimately would finalize a big life decision for me. we had a blast in the city and i am so glad my parents and jessica came! this was also the month i ended my 3 and a 1/2 year relationship and became a half fanatic! wow thats a lot of ups and downs.

november~73 miles.

in continuing my trend of ups and downs i finally got to complete a ragnar race with 2 amazing vans of girls!! i have been waiting years to complete and it was everything i was hoping it to be. then i headed back into a little bit of a funk. the heartbreak really set in and some days i just couldnt pull myself out of bed for a run or much of anything. luckily i was a very busy girl of course and got to be surrounded by lots of family and we continued our turkey trot tradition!

december~101 miles. 

what a way to end the year, my first 100 mile month ever on new years eve with my runner group friends!!! it finally got be to winter around here plus i got to see my ragnar teammates at the ugly sweater run in downtown vegas.

2012~851 miles run. 

wow!! i did not think it would get that high or that did so many things throughout the year. and this year went so, so fast. i cant wait to see what 2013 has to offer!!

the 3 year runniversary

today is an important and fun day for me. it is the exact day, 3 years ago that i took my first steps running :) if you missed it last year here is the whole story! the short version is i had always put a 1/2 marathon on my bucket list but continued to think it wasnt the right time to train and actually do it. till i visited a very wise friend in nashville and he told me it was never going to be the perfect time, i would just need to do it. turned out to be good advice as i sit here 3 years later with a million things changed since receiving that fantastic advice.

not everything has been running related though. for example...

*i met richard which changed everything (for the best!). i learned what it was really like to have a supportive boyfriend that would wake up wayyy before any normal person to come with me to watch me run, i mean how awesome is that :) 

love :)

*i started a blog! i always loved writing and thought a blog would be so cool but had no idea what i would write about, until i moved in with a boy.

*i started my masters degree! something i never thought i would do, ever. its like running has made me reach for higher things :)

now the running stuff! in the last year i have grown as a runner like crazy and even switched my view on a few things. 

#5 the long beach marathon and half maradthon

long beach, california

october 9th, 2011

finished in 2:03:56!! after not getting into my dream race and my original one being cancelled i decided it was all a sign to get me back to long beach. this time it was just richard and i on our own adventure. my secret goal was to break 2:10:00 and i had no idea that the feeling of the course flying by was really happening until i crossed the finish line to find richard and hear the unbelievable news!! 

running and vacation :)

 #6 rock and roll vegas marathon and half marathon

las vegas, nevada

december 4th, 2011

 finished in 2:00:38!! i had no intentions of running this race so close to long beach, until i heard it was at night on the strip. just like that i had signed up and was doing the quickest turnaround ever. i crossed my fingers for a sub-2:00 and came so incredibly close. by now youve heard all the craziness with the race, the mass people, the water claims, and the changes that are coming for next year. if i had to rewind and do it all again...totally signing up:)

theres always a plan ;)

#7 tinkerbell inaugural half marathon

anaheim, ca

january 29th, 2012

 finished in 2:05:30!! this race was all about fun. it was the last one in my crazy 15 week schedule and i am so glad tinkerbell was last. they took us a different route than the disneyland half in september and being all-womens i got to start in corral a! that meant shorter lines at the characters and a finish time i didnt even fathom. plus i got to participate in my moms "last 1/2." thats what she tells me anyway ;)

no disney adventure is complete without mickey!

 #1 (and only) the rage triathlon

las vegas, nv

april 21st, 2012

 finished in 5:14:31!! i finished. that was all that mattered at the end of the day. it was the hardest thing i have ever done and i am glad i can cross it off the bucket list. and somehow it refocused my love for running. it made me realize this is my true sport and the thing i will always stick with. 

best support team ever!

this year i also remembered what it was like to have fun while running and it didnt have to be time goals or worrying about mileage all the time. its good to have a blast too!

the color run!
2/25 las vegas, nv

the warrior dash!
4/28 phoenix, az

 i cant wait to see where this next year will take me:) now its time to celebrate!

the rage week 11 recap.

so i know this is a week late, but i couldnt leave you hanging on the last week of my training! it was all about taper and hopefully calming the nerves i had. i pretend like that worked, the nerves part at least did not. but taper week also means carbload!! hands down the best part of the week:)

sunday~rest.
rest

coming back from phoenix didnt exaclty give me my normal rest day, but spending time with friends was perfect!

monday~4-5 miles.
4.72 miles = 44:18 minutes/9:23 min/mile

last group of the my training cycle and it felt good. derrick and i talked mostly gear and timing. soooo glad i had someone to help talk me through it. the weather was a little warm, but cooler than the week before so i couldnt complain too much. last run of the cycle complete!

monday night crew!
a big group, at least for us :)

tuesday~1000m swim.

1000m swim = 56:19 pace

the pool was pretty busy, but not nearly as bad as last week. i felt good and strong, less nervous at least for the day about everything. and i am officially done with swimming! like forever if i wanted. it is a really good workout so i might work laps into another training schedule down the road.

wednesday~15 miles bike.
13.75 mi bike = 1:03:55 minutes/12.9mph
2.03 mi run = 17:32 minutes/8:38 min/mile

i had a plan, but ran out of time a little bit with the my friend the wind at least. the weather kept telling me it wouldnt happen until later but of course it just does what it wants. i kept going anyway and even played a little bit with the gears to try new things. i realize why your not supposed to do that the week of a race, you want to try it then, but what if it doesnt work.
i hadnt done the bike to run thing in awhile and needed to remind my body how to do that. so i hopped off the bike a little early and added a little 2 miler which felt good. i always think i am going as slow as molases and then when i finally do look down im actually going at a decent pace. must remember to give myself some credit.

thursday~rest.
rest

I AM OFFICIALLY DONE with training. and it feels good. i have done all that i can, and must rest up/carb up until race day. :)

friday~rest.
rest

i gladly took friday off to sleep in a bit and just hang out for the day. plus it was a chance to go to packet pick up and i actually ran into my friend teri there! i was so glad to have someone that was just as freaked out as i was to do this crazy thing and have another person i would know there.



bib #463.

 saturday~RACE DAY.
1500m swim = 1:01:00 minutes/65:26 pace
24.8mi bike = 2:36:58 minutes/9.5mph
6.2mi run = 1:25:34 minutes/13:46 min/mile

i made it. i finished. i am officially a triathlete. 5:14:31 finish time.
it was a super hot day and it all seemed to fly by now thinking about it. the race company was awesome, so athlete friendly, and plenty of water/food. read the whole recap here!

total for the week=2500m swam+38.55mi bike+8.23mi run

its a little hard to believe its all over and i really finished. a little surreal it all actually happened. my cycling and swimming career are gladly finished and my running spirit has been renewed! i cant wait to see whats next :)

0 days to the rage triathlon!!

im a triathlete!!

saturday, april 21st, 2012 i participated in the hardest thing i have ever done in my whole life, a triathlon. now most of you have been avid readers for awhile but if you havent catch up on the back story here. i have been preparing and training for weeks but the day seemed to come all too quickly. wednesday i went to sport chalet to rent my wetsuit, thursday i dropped off the bike at the bike shop for a tune up, friday i took off from work to get some extra sleep and pick up my packet. i figured that the whole event would take right about 4 hours based off my dress rehersal a few weeks ago. my family, richard, a few friends, and i had worked out timing details plus what everyone was bringing, everything was ready.

after picking up my packet i started to get really nervous! i ran into 1 of the girls that runs in our group but hadnt seen in awhile since she was running on the other side of town now. i was so super excited to run into someone i knew that was equally as nervous! as i got home that night for my last minute packing and laundry the butterflies in my stomach were getting bigger and bigger, so much that i almost wanted to throw up so they would go away. i finally calmed myself down enough for a few hours of good sleep and a few more of not so good before the 415a alarm.

now its really for real.

they aged me a year!

richard and i were on the road to boulder beach right on time saturday morning. he had only gotten about 2 hours of sleep but was right there with me asking how i was and making sure we had everything. we got there in plenty of time to set up my transition area and wait for my family a little while later. i made the bathroom stop and watched the half triathlon people start their swim. soon everyone started arriving and i needed to get in the wetsuit and head into the water. it was now or never, i couldnt be anymore ready it was time to go. i was super nervous again and getting really warm, it was planning to get close to 95* that day. i hugged my family and ellen who had arrived then and went in the water to get ready plus listen to the course.

set up and ready to go!

my mom employed her kids to help her make signs!

the gun went off not soon after and i hung in the back to let all the fasties go 1st. there was another girl who seemed to be in the same position so we swam together for a bit. for some reason i just could not get my form together. couldnt put my face in the water successfully and breathe right. soon the wave after us was coming and i needed to speed up or move. luckily they were the last wave so once they passed i was open. very quickly though i realized i was in the back, not where i was hoping for. i saw a girl out of the corner of my eye swimming backstroke and figured that had to be easier, turns out it was! the guys in kayak came over to check on me once or twice and 1 ended up sticking with me to direct me all the way in. it was the longest swim of my whole life and i could not wait to get it over with. the guys kept telling me i was doing great and i asked them just to let me finish, he told me i was doing fine and i would if i just kept going. i have never been so excited to see a boat ramp in my whole life after i rounded that last buoy! i could hear and see my family and friends waiting for me and i tried to shuffle out of the water as fast as possible.

holy crap, i actually made it!

my dad got to me 1st to check on me and i think there might have even been a tear underneath those sunglasses that i was finished:) sandy had arrived and told me i did great and she would see me later that night. richard was right behind me too giving me perfect encouragement! i got into the transition area to head up a huge hill to my bike. richard was right outside the gate directing me, telling me to follow him because he knew exactly where i needed to go. he led me right to everything and i changed as fast as possible. my family kept checking on me and made sure i was feeling ok. i was so excited to get out of the wetsuit and into regular clothes i just wanted to go.

he was there every step of the way :)

soon i was off, up the hill and onto the bike course. there were people who were literally already finished with the whole race and i was just starting the bike. i knew i would be toward the end, but just didnt think i would be that far. i was the 2nd to last person out of the water after all. the bike started out with fairly rolling hills plus i was able to see everyone coming back. i even passed my running partner derrick! i got close to the turnaround point and actually had to get off and walk for a few minutes. it was soooo hot out there with no shade, i had to push myself reasonably. as i was headed up the hill a car passed me and yelled out "quitter" as i was walking. i tried to not let it get to me since i was just under halfway! i saw the turnaround point and they marked me off the list after making sure i was feeling ok. there were a few ambulances circling the course and an official race vehicle out there to make sure all the athletes were safe. i headed back to the start line determined! i did have 1 point where i needed to walk again because the hills out there were kicking my butt. soon i got to the 5 miles left mark and knew there was a water station i could rehydrate. my water bottle was getting low and i knew i needed at least a little bit of gatorade to replenish. just when i was about to leave another girl on the half course came behind me and asked what time it was. the girls told us 1125a and i was in total shock! i thought it would take about 2 hours, but we were getting close to the cutoff. i climbed back on the bike and tried to zoom those last 5 miles as fast as possible.

i turned down the corner heading into the transition area to be greeted by my family! it was sooo what i needed at that point and they followed next to me as i dismounted and hung up my bike. apparently i had freaked them all out quite a bit in taking much longer than i thought. richard guided me right back to my area and i ran into derrick again! my family got to meet him and i knew all i had left was the run. it was a loop and then an out and back, plus there were water stations every mile so i just needed to count them off. my family checked on me again as i put on my running skirt to take off. i felt good and was sooo excited to just run. my head was totally all for it, my body was a bit more rebellious. it was tired and hot, and i know it just wanted to be done.

finally, my true love!

i started out strong and knew my limits right away. i went around the first loop, through the water station when the inside of my knee got so tight i almost cried. so i walked for a few minutes and stretched it out, luckily it felt better quickly. as i headed up the hill i saw my dad and richard waiting for me! they were cheering and even caught my inhaler when i ran by pumping my arms. my mom and cousin bethany were just a ways up the hill and my mom walked with me for a few minutes. she did the mom thing and checked on me to make sure i wasnt pushing too hard. i felt good and passed the sprint course turnaround, i knew that meant i was only 1.5 miles till my turnaround. the sun was blazing at this point and i walked whenever my body wanted. i stopped at every water station and the volunteers were so nice!

yay, family!

as i hit the turnaround i knew i only had 3 more miles, i could do this. as i headed away from the sun and a little bit downhill my body and i started making deals. like i would never do this again to it. and we could eat as much food as we wanted if i could just cross the finish line. and i would promise to go stand in the lake before i left if i could just get across the line. soon i was rounding the corner and saw my family again! my mom jogged a bit with me and richard and my dad where there cheering the whole way. i kept pushing that last mile and thinking this is the longest mile i have ever seen in my whole life. i even had to walk just a little bit more as i rounded the last corner to the finish line.

im so close to done! is it over?

richards sooo cute sign :)

I MADE IT!!

let me tell you that crossing the line never tasted sooo good! i had made it:) i was immediately engulfed in a tent with cold water/gatorade/food, my finishers medal, and a sopping wet cold towel to drape on my neck. my family was standing at the end of the tent cheering with signs and huge grins waiting for me! they hugged and we all cheered together:) it was a moment i will never forget! i grabbed some more water and we headed straight to the lake. they had been out there forever so i knew they were roasting just as much as i was. it felt sooooo good to be in the cold water after the hot, hot heat. we all just stood there for a minute recounting the day. when we had enough we headed up the hill to grab my stuff and get the heck out of there.

my amazing cheering squad!!

we went to one of my favorite places for breakfast after, the cracked egg. i was sooo hungry i didnt even have time to take a picture of my food or the group, ha! it was so great to tell them all about the race and to know i was done. and a triathlete! my parents even brought in a gift from the car, the most coveted running device ever...a garmin!!! i had my eyes on one for months now but had too many expenses come my way to just break down and do it. it was a huge surprise!! they were so proud, it was the best :)

i swam 1500 meters
i biked 24.8 miles
i ran 6.2 miles

the shower i took soon after felt fantastic and i noticed the beginnings of a few sunburns. the nap i took after that though, felt even better. seriously, post-race naps are the best thing ever! that night i went to dinner with a few friends at the firefly that had just opened near us the day before. it was small, fun, and exactly the kind of celebration i was looking for, with those that supported me the most next to my family:)

i woke up sunday morning expecting to be so much more sore than i actually was. except for the sunburn. holy crap it had really set in on my back in the outline of my racerback tank and on the tops of my hands. i laid there for a few minutes almost in disbelief it had all really happened the day before. i found out my times before i went to bed and came in at 5:14:31. not the time i was quite looking for, but i had finished. and in one piece! it was almost an unreal feeling. thank you to everyone for the support! i truly found out the ones who believe in me through this process and am so grateful for every kind and encouraging word they gave:)

im a triathlete!